Yesterday the Commission published its five year reports on Romania and Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. The CVM monitors and supports reforms undertaken by both countries to strengthen the rule of law, reform the judiciary and tackle corruption.
The Commission sets out its concerns about the recent political crisis in Romania. William Hague did the same when he met Victor Ponta on Tuesday and, like the President of the European Commission, also welcomed the Romanian Prime Minister’s assurances and actions to address those concerns.
The report is not just about recent events. It looks at the wider picture, and the progress Romania has made since it joined the EU five years ago. Some particular points stand out for me.
Firstly, that determined steps are being taken to prosecute and convict those guilty of corruption. The Commission is right to highlight the performance of Romania’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutors, the DNA, as “one of the most significant advances made in Romania since accession”.
Secondly, whereas in previous reports the Commission had been concerned at the delays in the courts, this time the High Court is rightly commended for promoting best practice in the efficient and rigorous management of trials. The Superior Council of Magistrates has played its part too in defending the independence of the judiciary when this was being threatened.
Romania needs to build on this record of success, to implement the remaining reforms under the benchmarks and to establish a clear, sustainable and irreversible track record of tackling corruption. It’s really important that the different institutions support each other to do this – for example that the findings of the National Integrity Agency (ANI) are followed up by the prosecutors and the courts.
And Romania’s politicians, of all parties, have a particular responsibility. The Parliament needs to put its own house in order. It is extraordinary that convicted felons can still sit as MPs. The National Anti-Corruption Strategy, adopted by the Government and by the Parliament, gives a good framework to make the necessary reforms. As the European Council has commented in the past, a coherent approach by all the various institutions – executive, legislature, judiciary – is the key to successful reform.
We recognise the size of the challenge and will of course continue to support the Justice Ministry, judiciary and civil society strongly on both justice reform and the fight against corruption by offering advice and technical assistance. Our most recent projects include funding two online platforms which report bribery in the health sector and illegal logging. We are also supporting Romania, through our Serious Organised Crime Agency, to build an effective asset recovery regime.